Depression, nutritional risk and eating behaviour in older caregivers

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition, health & aging Vol. 14; no. 6; pp. 442 - 448
• Main Authors: Torres, S.J., McCabe, M., Nowson, C.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer-Verlag 01-06-2010; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Aging; Aging - psychology; Appetite - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Caregivers - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Depression and Eating; Eating; Feeding Behavior; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric Assessment; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Humans; Male; Malnutrition - diagnosis; Malnutrition - epidemiology; Malnutrition - psychology; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Mood disorders; Neurosciences; Nutrition; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status; Primary Care Medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of Life Research; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Victoria; Victoria; nutrition; dietary intake; depression; Caregiver; Mood disorder; Feeding behavior; Nutrition; Food intake; Depressions; Depression; Metabolic diseases; Risk taking; Feeding
• ISSN: 1279-7707; 1760-4788
• DOI: 10.1007/s12603-010-0041-x

Objective
This study investigated the relationship between depression, nutritional risk and dietary intake in a population of older caregivers.
Design
Mailed questionnaire with sub group participating in a home-based interview.
Participants and setting
Seventy-six community dwelling caregivers aged 50 y or over from Victoria, Australia.
Measurements
Questionnaires provided information on weight, height, hours of care, depressive symptoms, nutritional risk and appetite. The home-based interview assessed dietary intake and shopping, cooking and meal consumption habits.
Results
The sample had a mean±SD age of 70.3±12.8 y, BMI of 27.2±4.8 kg/m
2
and the time spent caring was 101.8±68.1 h/wk. Overall, 32% of caregivers had depressive symptoms, 21% were at risk of malnutrition and 21% reported their appetite was fair/bad/very bad. Caregivers with depressive symptoms (32%) compared to those with no depressive symptoms (53%) had a poorer appetite (p<0.05). Of the 20 caregivers who participated in the home interview, 25% reported they ate their meals alone.
Conclusion
A significant proportion of community dwelling older caregivers had depressive symptoms, were at risk of malnutrition and had poor appetites, although the majority were overweight or obese.